It is the body of Christ. The Church is Composed of Christian Believers, who have accepted Christ, obeyed the gospel. and remain faithful. ( Col 1:18, Acts 2:47)
Is the Church Divine or human?
It is divine in the sense that God planned, purchased, and built it. Christ is the head of the Church. (Matt 16:18, 1 Cor 1:2)
When did the Church begin?
The Church began on the first Pentecost, ten days after the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit came in power inspiring the Apostles to proclaim the gospel message of redemption for the first time, and 3,000 people repented and were baptized. ( Acts 2)
What is the Purpose of the Church?
The Church is to preach the gospel, to make disciples to baptize penitent believers, and to teach them "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." (Matt 28:19,20)
We are dedicated to the task of being the Church revealed in the New Testament. We abhor the division which exist among those who believe in Christ. We have no interest spending time, talent or money in promoting a sectarian Christianity or in propagating the creeds or traditions of men. We preach Christ and Him crucified and call all men to accept Him.
We are not pleading for people to belong to the right sect or party, but to belong to Christ and to work under Him and advance His nonsectarian world-wide Kingdom. Let us be Christians only!
Christ invites us to enter His Church in the same simple way the people of the Bible did. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, repent of our sins, confess our faith in Him, be buried in baptism and arise to walk in the newness of life.
The Plea of The Christian Church
We plea for Christian unity! The unity of Christians comes through common devotion and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ who is revealed in the Bible. Christ is the common denominator! In the New Testament times there were slaves, Gentiles, Jews, Roman Centurions, Ethiopians, fishermen, tax collectors, women, children and people from almost every background. The composition of the first century church was really something! The pagan world stood back in amazement that such a conglomeration could even stand to be together, much less love each other. Look at their differences. The orthodox Jew had a lifetime of exclusiveness. A Roman soldier had the job of occupying Jewish territory. A pagan Gentile had worshipped idols and participated in temple rites. A slave was property, hardly more than an ox. Yet, upon their conversion they had a common denominator in Jesus Christ. This bond superseded all prejudice, cultural differences, skin color, or nationality. It even broke "religious" barriers - all became simply Christians. Jesus is the Savior, whose blood cleanses from sin - resulting in unity - one in Christ, thus united to each other. Is there another common denominator?
The Bible is the only book that the Christian world will accept! We plea for all to go back to the Bible. One Christ! One Book! One People!
We Teach
We teach that Christians are to support the work of the Church in its local and world wide aspects. "Freely ye have received, freely give," is the admonition of Christ. Jesus said, "Thus ye ought to have done (referring to tithing) and not leave the other undone." (Matt 23:23) Paul urges, "Upon the first day of the week let each of you lay by him in store as he may prosper." (1 Cor 16:2)
We teach that every Christian is to obey Christ's instruction, "So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matt 5:16). We are to grow in knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and manifest the fruits of the Spirit in our lives, for "by their fruits ye shall know them."
We believe the Lord will come again. Speaking of the Lord's Supper, Paul said, "For as often as ye eat this bread and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come." (1 Cor 11:26). we are admonished by Christ, "Be ye therefore ready for in an hour ye think not the Son of Man cometh."
Our plea is for Christian unity. Our purpose is the evangelization of the world. This unity and purpose for which Christ prayed are found in John 17:21/ "That they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be in us; that the world may believe that thou didst send me."
We do not object to publishing what we believe and practice, but we refuse to accept any such statement as authoritative or as a test of fellowship.
What Is The Name Of Church Members?
The Bible refers to the church as the bride of Christ. Now the bride should wear the bridegroom's name; not the name of the bridegroom's friend, John the Baptist, nor the name of the bridegroom's servants, Luther, Calvin, Wesley or Campbell. The name Christian was enough to distinguish the early followers to Christ. The name Christian will still do. Party names perpetuate party division and strife. It is enough to be a Christian, and not a particular brand of Christian. We would persuade people to be Christians, and have all of Christ's people wear Christ's name. ( Acts 11:26)
Since the church belong to Christ, we wear His Name, the Christian Church or the Church of Christ. These terms mean the same thing just as "The American Flag" and "The flag of America" are identical in meaning. We refuse to wear any name but His, for His Name will some day be exalted above every name. (Philippians 2:9-12)
Can I Be Just A Christian?
Is it possible to be just a Christian like Paul, Peter, and Aquila?
The New Testament is as authoritative, valid and binding today as when it was written. Neither human nature nor man's spiritual needs have changed. The principals of the New Testament are as applicable to present-day man as to the first century man.
Man's obligation to God is the same today as at the beginning of the Christian age. The need to yield our lives in complete submission to Christ's will is the same today. Our determination to know the exact truth of His will should be the same. Today we should reject all creeds, doctrines and religious ideas that are merely human in origin and accept only the true teachings of Christ, as we learn them from the inspired New Testament.
When we do this, of course, we will be Christians just like Paul or Philip or Peter. Surely this is the sort of Christian that God wants us to be, as it shows proper appreciation of Christ's authority. Even in the middle of the religious confusion of our creed-bound, denomination-divided age, it is possible for you to be just a Christian! To find out the details of how you may become and remain just a Christian like Peter and Barnabas, you must open your New Testament and read for yourself.
Are you a Christian just like Paul, Peter, and Philip? Have you trusted and obeyed Christ as the Christians in the Bible did?
Must One Be A Member Of The Church To Be Saved ?
The question is not, "Can one be saved out of denomination?" but "Can one be saved out of the church of the Lord?" "The church does not save one." It is true that the church does not save one, but God through Christ saves, and the church is Christ's body. (Col 1:18). Where does God save one, in the church or out of the church? God is in Christ reconciling the world to himself. (11 Cor 5:19). God saves people in Christ-that is , He saves people in the church. If people can be saved out of the church, than they can be saved out of Christ, out of the kingdom of God, out of the Body of Christ, out of the building of God and without becoming living stones in the spiritual house of God. The New Testament declares the church to be all of these.
One can be saved without being redeemed if one can be saved without being redeemed if one can be saved out of the church. All Spiritual blessings are in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3). Redemption and forgiveness of sin are in Christ. (Ephesians 1:6,7). Hence, if one can be saved out of the church, one can be saved without redemption and forgiveness.
The blood of Christ is in His Body which is the church. If people can be saved out of the church, then they can be saved without coming in contact with the blood of Christ.
All Christians are in the church. We know this because the same process that makes a Christian also adds one to the church. If salvation is out of the church, then why did Christ establish His church? If one can be saved out of the church, then why would Jesus shed His precious blood to purchase the church? The Word of God declares the church to be essential!
What To Expect When You Visit The Christian Church
You can expect a friendly Christian welcome and a Bible message. You can expect to find a group of Christians assembled to worship God through Jesus Christ His Son. The worship consists of hearing a Bible message, praying, singing, observing the Lord's Supper and giving our tithes and love offerings. We strive to worship as Christ directs in His Word.
You can expect these Christians to have a wholesome respect for the Bible, the sole and complete authority in Christianity today.
(1 Peter 4:10; Galatians 1:8,9; Revelation 22:18,19).
You will hear everyone entreated to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. They will be entreated to BELIEVE in Christ (John 8:24), REPENT (Luke 13:3,5) CONFESS CHRIST (Matthew 10:32), and be BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Those who have been baptized into Christ are urged to be faithful in worshipping and serving the Lord as the New Testament teaches.
You can expect to hear an appeal for all men to return to Christ and the original church revealed in the Bible.
Communion (Lord's Supper)
The purpose of the Lord's Supper is three-fold;
WHY?
It is a memorial. Jesus said, "This do in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19).
It is communion with Christ. (Matthew 26:19; 1 Cor 10:16)
It affords an opportunity to proclaim the Lord's death. (1 Cor 11:26)
WHO?
When Christ instituted the Lord's Supper, He gave it to His followers. he has never taken it from them.
The Christians partook of the Lord's Supper as they had a Savior to remember. It is the Lord's Table and it is spread for His people.
To the Lord's Table we can neither invite nor bar. The communion is personal between a Christian and his Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Lord's Supper for all the Lord's children.
WHEN?
We learn that the Lord's Supper had a prominent part in the worship of the early church. (Acts 2:42; 20-7). The New Testament Christians met every Lord's Day to partake of the Lord's Supper. The church for the first seven hundred years observed the Lord's Supper weekly. John Calvin said, "The change was a contrivance of the devil." John Wesley advised his people to spread the Table each week.
Stewardship
We all have our preconceived ideas about stewardship. "It has to do with money," or "another sermon on tithing." But the real significance of stewardship is when it involves total commitment-stewardship of one's life.
A Christian steward is that person who has been entrusted with a life redeemed by Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 6:19-20). The Christian steward is conscientious of what has been so freely given and is therefore concerned and involved with soul winning. (1 John 4:19; John 4:31-38; Luke 10:2; Matt 9:37-38). This concern will be manifested by a readiness to grow in Christ and the work of the Church utilizing time, talents and treasure. (Luke 12:34).
Christian stewardship is honest management of all aspects of the redeemed life. This will be accomplished by the Holy Spirit's influence and direction through the Word. Work releases the power of God and will be to God's glory and man's benefit. (Matt 6:33; Heb 12:1-2; Ps 37:5; 11 Tim 2:4, 14-15). Christian stewardship is the believer's response to God. We love Him. We obey Him. It is both the evidence and measure of Christian sincerity.
As you determine to cultivate and practice stewardship of your redeemed life, commit that determination unto the Lord, and trust him for enablement (Rom 11:36).
